Not all Internet Users are created equal...

Most people do not take into consideration that not all Internet users are created equal. In Jakob Nielsen's article, "Lower Literacy Users", he cites, "According to the U.S. Department of Education's National Adult Literacy Survey, 48% of the U.S. population has low literacy.
Based on the available information about Internet participation at different education levels, I estimate that 30% of Web users have low literacy. "

Thus, websites must be designed to aid such a large amount of users and their needs. According to Nielsen, such implementation tactics that will increase usability for lower literacy users include: simplifying the text, prioritizing the information, avoiding text that moves or changes, streamline the page design, simplify navigation, and optimize search.

Usability for people with lower literacy is especially important for government, health, employment, and mass marker producers' websites, as those with lower literacy are more likely to visit those particular types of sites.

Designing websites malleable to people with lower literacy skills is important not only because it helps those particular users, but will increase usability for all visitors.

Oh those Crazy Teens...

Reading Nielsen's article on the "Usability of Websites for Teenagers" spoke to facts that most people already know: teens don't like to read very much, but like to have fun. Thus, in order to appeal to teens, websites must be simple, interactive, and fun.

According to the report, "The following interactive features all worked well because they let teens do things rather than simply sit and read: Online quizzes, forms for providing feedback or asking questions, Online voting, Games, Features for sharing pictures or stories, Message boards, Forums for offering and receiving advice, Features for creating a website or otherwise adding content."

Interactivity is extremely important to teens because it allows them to express themselves and build social networks. An effective website modeled for teens would include short, concise verbiage, as well as items that allow social relationships and give the user a platform share information about themselves.

Regardless of who, it is vital to design one's website around the needs of its audience. The more usable a site, the more effective in communicating it is.

Wireless phones are the coolest...

Reading "The Real Digital Divide" in the May 10th edition of The Economist brings up an excellent point that mobile phones are more important and practical than computers in bridging the "digital divide" across the globe.

According to the article, the reason why the application of computers should not be looked to as the world's solution to the digital divide is, "Fewer people in poor countries than in rich ones own computers and have access to the internet simply because they are too poor, are illiterate, or have other more pressing concerns, such as food, health care and security. So even if it were possible to wave a magic wand and cause a computer to appear in every household on earth, it would not achieve very much: a computer is not useful if you have no food or electricity and cannot read."

Instead, the article advocates for the expansion of mobile phone networks and usage. Mobile phones allow for poorer countries to develop, rather than computers, which treat the symptoms, not the cause of the technology disparity in the world. "When it comes to mobile phones, there is no need for intervention or funding from the UN: even the world's poorest people are already rushing to embrace mobile phones, because their economic benefits are so apparent. Mobile phones do not rely on a permanent electricity supply and can be used by people who cannot read or write. "

Moreover, the article recommends that governments in such developing countries allow competition among telecommunication companies, which makes for a faster expansion of mobile phones. Mobile phones are of great purpose to those living in poorer countries, "reducing transaction costs, broadening trade networks and reducing the need to travel, which is of particular value for people looking for work. "

"77% of the world's population already lives within range of a mobile network." It is very interesting that a modern piece of technology, the mobile phone, is so widely used and serves such a great purpose even the poorest nations.

Very Influential...

I found IPDI's piece, "Putting Online Influentials to Work for your Campaign" very interesting, as it discusses the role of "Influentials" as opinion leaders, particularly when it came to choosing a candidate in an election. According to the article, "citizens involved in presidential politics through the Internet were almost seven times more likely than average Americans to act as opinion leaders among their friends, colleagues and families." Because influentials are so influential, it is vital for campaigns to capitalize and take advantage of influentials "social networks, political activism, and persuasive ability."

The article goes on to suggest the use of the Internet to facilitate the influence of influentials, which I found very helpful in crafting my online strategic plan,

"They are activists, so help them lead.
o Ask for their help, and tell them what you need.
o Give them the authority and legitimacy they need with titles such as eCaptain and ePrecinct Leader.

They are joiners and networkers, so build a campaign community.
o Form online communities around key issues and constituencies.
o Take advantage of their social and professional networks by sending them compelling e-mails to forward to their friends and colleagues.
o Invite them to campaign events to meet other supporters.
o Create a campaign blog so that they can communicate with each other.

They are news junkies, so feed their habit.
o Post current news stories on your Web site and forward newsletters with information on key issues.
o Ask them to send you news items you might have missed.
o Provide links to online news organizations.
o Hold online chats with the candidate, prominent supporters and campaign officials.

They are opinionated, so give them a microphone.
o Help them articulate their views with solid, sourced background information and concrete talking points.
o Organize a Media Corps who receive talking points and weekly assignments to communicate with local media.
o Post links to blogs and online discussion groups.

They are busy, so make it easy.
o Post names and physical and e-mail addresses of newspaper editors along with tips on how to compose a letter to the editor.
o Post the times and station call letters of call-in radio and TV talk shows, and provide telephone numbers and names of show hosts.
o Give them Event-in-a-Box kits that provide lists, posters and brochures and tips for holding house parties and conducting neighborhood voter registration and get-out-the-vote activities."

It is key to make the job of an influential as easy as possible because influentials compile the majority of visitors of visit a campaign website. A campaign must make he or she feel important and making as much information as possible available. By providing influentials with such helps them maximize their skills, while recruiting and supplying new visitors the tools to become influentials. The more influentials a campaign reaches out to, the more successful and well organized a campaign will be.